Donald Trump slammed local officials in Los Angeles and San Francisco over their cities' homeless crises while visiting California, threatening to take federal action to fix the issue if the state “can’t do it themselves”.
The president delivered remarks on Tuesday while visiting Los Angeles to attend a local fundraiser in support of his re-election, as well as a meeting with officials planning the 2028 Olympic Games.
Asked about whether the federal government was planning on getting involved to address the homeless situation in Los Angeles, he responded: “Well, we had no role, but we’re taking a role in it.”
“I see it, see what’s happening to LA, I see what’s happening to San Francisco, some great cities. I said to my people, whether they like it or not, we need to do something,” Mr Trump said. “You have needles, you have things we don’t even want to discuss all over the streets flowing into the oceans.”
The president added: “If they can’t do it themselves, we’re going to do it, the federal government is going to take it over.”
This wasn’t the first time Mr Trump made the bizarre allegation of needles flowing into the ocean from San Francisco.
The president previously threatened to issue the city an environmental violation notice while claiming needles on the streets were entering the San Francisco’s sewage system.
Local officials said that was improbable, and that pollutants that make it into the city’s grated drains are later treated at either the Southeast Treatment Plant in Bayview, or the Oceanside Treatment Plant located near the San Francisco zoo, according to SF Chronicle.
On Tuesday, Mr Trump also attacked so-called “sanctuary cities” when asked about local governments in California and other states who have resisted components of his administration’s hard-line immigration policies, like having local police officers cooperate with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The president labelled such cities “dangerous” while calling out local officials in both Los Angeles and San Francisco, telling reporters: “Look at some of the horrific crimes that are committed that wouldn't happen if you didn't have sanctuary cities for criminals. With L.A. and San Francisco, and other places, they have one thing in common, the leadership.”
“No. 1, you look at the homeless and how horrible the situation that is, but also look what it's doing to your cities. So disgraceful,” he said. “These are cities that 10 years ago were the most beautiful cities and now, people walk away and leave, and say horrible things.”
Mr Trump then demanded both cities “get it cleaned up fast” before again warning his administration was “going to come in and do it”.
